America in the heart of Cheltenham

Smokey Joe’s American style diner, bar and venue is less than a ten-minute walk from Francis Close Hall Campus. A surprising find in the heart of Cheltenham town centre, it’s the perfect spot to grab some traditional American food.

Offering dishes like the Englishman in New York breakfast, classic beef burgers and gourmet hot dogs. Along with cocktails and its infamous unicorn hot chocolate, it’s easy to see why Smokey Joe’s has been a much-loved venue since the 1930s.

With humble beginnings as a tea room, feeding and entertaining American GIs stationed at a nearby airbase, it became the first place in the South West to get a jukebox. Bringing popular music to an establishment that traditionally served food and drink alone.

Even today, a jukebox takes pride of place down at old Smokey Joe’s. But today, the diner has taken it one step further, holding various live music events throughout the year. Hosting an amazing mix of Jazz and Funk, including their very own fabulous Smokey Joe’s Jazz Club.

This isn’t the county’s only tie to America. The original music composition known as The Star-Spangled Banner, now used for the American National Anthem, was written by John Stafford Smith. Baptised in Gloucester Cathedral, Smith attended Gloucester Cathedral School.

Here he began his early choir boy career, before gaining reputation as a composer and organist. His musicality ultimately responsible for the famous composition which is thought to date back as far as 1773. Upon his death in 1836, a memorial plaque was erected in Gloucester Cathedral. On it are both the UK and US flags.